Display apparatus

Abstract

A display apparatus includes a display panel, a back cover accommodating the display panel, and a sound output unit including at least one sound output module disposed to overlap the display panel. The at least one sound output module includes a support plate including an uneven surface and a piezoelectric element attached on the uneven surface of the support plate and has a shape corresponding to the uneven surface of the support plate. Accordingly, a sound having a straight characteristic within an audible frequency domain may be output, thereby enhancing a sense of reality and an immersion of a viewer watching an image displayed by the display apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display apparatus, comprising:
 a display panel; and 
 a sound output module comprising at least one sound output module, the at least one sound output module comprising:
 a vibration layer having an uneven surface; 
 a first electrode on a first surface of the vibration layer; and 
 a second electrode on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the vibration layer. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The display apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support plate comprising a plurality of protrusion patterns, 
 wherein the vibration layer is on the plurality of protrusion patterns of the support plate, and 
 wherein the uneven surface of the vibration layer corresponds to the plurality of protrusion patterns of the support plate. 
 
     
     
       3. The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sound output module overlaps the display panel. 
     
     
       4. The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sound output module is on a front surface of the display panel. 
     
     
       5. The display apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a protection member on the sound output module; and 
 an air gap between the protection member and the sound output module. 
 
     
     
       6. The display apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the display panel comprises:
 a pixel array layer on a base substrate; and 
 an encapsulation plate on the pixel array layer; and 
 
 the sound output module is on the encapsulation plate. 
 
     
     
       7. The display apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the encapsulation plate is a second electrode configured to apply a sound signal to the vibration layer. 
     
     
       8. The display apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the vibration layer is deformed in at least one of a thickness direction and a lengthwise direction according to the sound signal applied to the encapsulation plate and the first electrode; and 
 the vibration layer is configured to output a sound by vibration due to the deformation. 
 
     
     
       9. The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sound output module is on a rear surface of the display panel. 
     
     
       10. The display apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein an air gap is provided between the display panel and the sound output module. 
     
     
       11. The display apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the display panel comprises:
 a pixel array layer on a base substrate; and 
 an encapsulation plate on the pixel array layer; and 
 
 the sound output module is under the encapsulation plate. 
 
     
     
       12. The display apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the encapsulation plate is a second electrode configured to apply a sound signal to the vibration layer. 
     
     
       13. The display apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the vibration layer is deformed in at least one of a thickness direction and a lengthwise direction according to the sound signal applied to the encapsulation plate and the first electrode; and 
 the vibration layer is configured to output a sound by vibration due to the deformation. 
 
     
     
       14. The display apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a protection member on the display panel. 
     
     
       15. The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the vibration layer comprises a plurality of protrusions; and 
 the uneven surface of the vibration layer corresponds to the plurality of protrusions. 
 
     
     
       16. The display apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein two adjacent protrusions of the plurality of protrusions are configured to output sounds having different frequencies. 
     
     
       17. The display apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of protrusion patterns has a line shape or a dot shape. 
     
     
       18. The display apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein, in each of the plurality of protrusion patterns, a width of a bottom surface is greater than a height of the respective protrusion pattern. 
     
     
       19. The display apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each bottom surface of the plurality of protrusion patterns contacts another bottom surface of the plurality of protrusion patterns. 
     
     
       20. The display apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each bottom surface of the plurality of protrusion patterns is spaced apart from one another.